Last Weekend of Freedom

All right, that phrase is how my son views the weekend before school starts. For the past couple of weeks, we've really "laid down the law" when it comes to bed-time. We've gotten back into a regular school year routine so that he will be prepared for Monday. Katie's classroom is all set up. Each students' name is neatly printed on little Olympic gold medals atop that student's desk. Her bulletin boards are ready to display beautiful 5 and 6-year-old works of art. In the sense of preparation, she is there. My classroom is ready to welcome the Class of 2011; although I doubt the Class of 2011 is ready to be welcomed back yet. I have a standard speech I give on the first day of school to every class that walks into my room.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Mr. Tyler. For those of you who do know me, my name is...Mr. Tyler. This is History, and you are living it right now. Nothing that has been has escaped history, and there is nothing to come that will escape history either. It is all around us. The words I just told you; history. This class will hopefully teach you about the history of this great United States. If I do my job right, and you yours, you will hopefully walk out of this classroom in May with a deeper knowledge about this subject than when you walked in this morning. I've been teaching this now for (_) years, so I must be doing something right." With that, I usually smile, some kids laugh, and we ease into the day. I look at my students, study their curiosity, remember mine when I was their age, and I share the words of 1 Timothy 4:12. "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." I believe in public education, but I truthfully love the ability to teach in a school of Christian faith.

So, that brings me back somehow to this "last weekend of freedom." Katie's 39th birthday is tomorrow. I found out recently that a young miss Shaohannah Chapman's birthday is tomorrow too. It's fun to turn nine; not as fun to turn 39. Happy birthday to both beautiful young ladies. So, on this last weekend before school begins for the three of us, I just want to take the time to glorify His name yet again. Revelation 21:4 says, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." That is the hope I'm leaning toward this weekend. It may be the last weekend of freedom for my son, and countless other children across the country, but the real freedom comes when I see Him face to face. It comes when I walk into His Kingdom, hug my Father, find my little Gracie, and live in an eternity of peace. That's real freedom to me.